Japanese Iris (JI)

Iris ensata

For many years we have been importing newer and older historic irises from Japan. This is our first year of releasing these to the public. All have been registered with the American Iris Society (AIS) and are eligible to be entered into AIS Sanctioned Shows.

Iris ensata has been selectively bred from wild forms found in northern Asia. Their cultural needs are very demanding, if met they will reward you with a magnificent display of color approximately 2-4 weeks after Tall Bearded bloom. Peak bloom in our garden is the last two weeks of June. Culture has a great influence; please refer to the culture page. Note: Grow as you would a productive summertime vegetable garden, with moist well-drained compost-rich soil that is slightly acidic (no lime or bone meal). 

Payne Award/Medal: The Payne Medal, named for W. Arlie Payne, is the highest award given by the American Iris Society that a Japanese iris can receive in its class. Payne Medal winners are then eligible to win the Dykes Medal, which is the highest award an iris can receive from The American Iris Society. 1992 and prior the highest award a Japanese Iris could receive was the Payne Award. This award has now been elevated to a medal status.   A brief of  W. Arlie Payne by Clarence Mahan.

​Mt Pleasant Iris Farm is pleased to offer many top award winners for your garden. Payne Award: PW​  Payne Medal: PM

Key to the descriptions
F = Falls Number of Petals, 3F single, 6F double, 9F12F peony form
E, M, L, V = Bloom Season, Early, Mid-Season, Late, and Very
At Mt Pleasant Iris Farm peak season is the last week of June going into the first week of July. VE varieties may start blooming in the first or second week of June. With VL varieties starting to bloom the first week of July. Each varietal clump when established should be in color with bloom for a minimum of two weeks.
RE = Rebloom has been noted in our fields, not guaranteed.
36″, 40″  Height of the plant.
Bloom 3″, 10″  Approximate diameter of the bloom.
Buds 2-4  Number of buds to a stem.
The last three listed items Height, Bloom Size, and Number of Buds all are heavily dictated by the culture given. The same plant might be 30″​ or 40″ tall depending on the soil and water needs given.​

 

Aki No Nishiki

$35.00
(Autumn Brocade/Silk)
Isaburo Hayashi
<1887
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1995

Red-violet, white blaze and rays 3F, M, 36″,
Bloom 6″-7″
Buds 2-3
 

Ama No Hagoromo

$40.00
(Angel’s Gown)
Kamo 1997
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

White, edged and randomly speckled blue-violet, stunning 9F, M, 30″,
Bloom 7″,
Buds 3-5
 

Ashi No Ukifune

$35.00
(Shallow Reed Boat Adrift)
Yoshio Mitsuda
1966
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1993

Light silver violet, darker veins, and halos, Style Arms dark purple. 6F, ML, 36″,
Bloom 6″,
Buds 2-4
 

Beni Huyou

$35.00
(Red Hibiscus)
Nagai Yoshiko
<1868
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

Red-violet, white blaze and rays 6F, ML, 36″,
Bloom 7″
Buds 4-7
 

JI Bewitching Twilight

Bewitching Twilight

$12.00
Harris 2000

Light pastel blue 6+F, M, 41″, Bloom 6″-7″, Buds 2-4
PM 2013
 

JI Butterflies In Flight

Butterflies In Flight

$12.00
Aitken 1991

Light blue veined darker 6F, L, 48″, Bloom 6″-7″, Buds 3-4
PM 1998
 

JI Caprican Butterfly

JI Caprician Butterfly clump

Caprician Butterfly

$12.00
Marx by Rodgers 1985

White veined purple 6F, M, 36″, Bloom 7″-8″ Buds 5-6
PW 1990
PM 1994
 

JI Cascade Crest

JI Cascade Crest clump

Cascade Crest

$12.00
Aitken 1988

White ground sanded pale blue-violet 6F, M, 48″, Bloom 6″-8″, Buds 2-3
PM 1995
 

JI Cascade Spice

JI Cascade Spice clump

Cascade Spice

$12.00
Reid 1989

White ground freckled blue-violet, banded red-violet 6F, ML, 42″, Bloom 6″-7″, Buds 3-5
 

JI Celestial Emperor

Celestial Emperor

$14.00
Harris 2011

Silver ground red-violet band and veins. Blue halo surrounding yellow signals 6F, ML, 38″, Bloom 9″-10″, Buds 2-3
 

JI Columbia Crest

JI Columbia Crest clump

Columbia Crest

$12.00
Harris 2015

Royal purple with a deep blue undertone 6F, L, 50″, Bloom 7″-8″, Buds 3-5
 

Daikagura

$35.00
(Shinto Ritual Dance/Music)
Unknown <1940
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

Dark wine red, velvet texture 3F, M, 44″,
Bloom 6″,
Buds 2-4
 

JI Dalle Whitewater

JI Dalle Whitewater clump

Dalle Whitewater

$12.00
Harris 2011

White ground sanded mid-blue-violet 6F, L, 48″, Bloom 7″-8″, Buds 3-5
PM 2021
 

JI Dancing Waves

JI Dancing Waves

Dancing Waves

$12.00
Payne 1964

Blends of dark violet to purple, sharp white edge 6F, ML, 42″, Bloom 9″-10″, Buds 2
PA 1968
 

Datedōgu

$35.00
(Extravagant Tool)
Unknown <1885
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1949, 2022

Red-violet, white blaze, and faint rays 3F, EM, 42″,
Blooms 5″,
Buds 3-4
 

JI Dirigo Devil

JI Dirigo Devil clump

Dirigo Devil

$12.00
White 1992

Mid Red-violet splashed lighter 6F, L, 44″, Bloom 5″-6″, Buds 3-5
 

JI Electric Rays

JI Electric Rays clump

Electric Rays

$12.00
Aitken 1990

Dark violet, neon blue rays 6F, M, 50″, Bloom 7″-8″, Buds 2
PM 1997
 

JI Embossed

JI Embossed clump

Embossed

$12.00
Marx 1956

Light violet, darker halo, and veins 6F, M, 45″, Bloom 6″-7″, Buds 3
 

JI Freckled Peacock

JI Freckled Peacock clump

Freckled Peacock

$12.00
Harris 2002

White freckled red-violet 3F, M, 54″, Bloom 7″-8″, buds 5-7
 

JI Frosted Intrigue

JI Frosted Intrigue clump

Frosted Intrigue

$12.00
Bauer/Coble 1997

Blends of dark blue and red-violet 6F, M, 36″, Bloom 6″-7″, Buds 4-5
 

JI Frosted Pyramid clump

Frosted Pyramid

$12.00
Marx 1960

White self 9F, L, 44″, Bloom 7″-8″, Buds 2-4
 

Geishōui

$40.00
(Rainbow Skirted Feather Robe)
Matsudaira Shōō
1846
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

Bright red-violet, large white blaze, and rays 9F, L, 42″,
Bloom 6″,
Buds 2
Note: Not “The” first 9F created however one of the first.
 

Gyokuhōren

$35.00
(Jeweled Lotus)
Unknown <1887
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1939, 2022

Light violet, darker at the edges. Unique flower form staying in an open cup. 3F, EM, 36″,
Bloom 3″,
Buds 2-3
 

Hakuryu No Tsume

$35.00
(White Dragon’s Nail)
Unknown <1910
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

White self. Most blooms stay in a closed bud form for the life of the flower, great for Ikebana. 3F, M, 42″,
Bloom 4″,
Buds 5-7
 

Hekihō

$35.00
(Bluebird)
Shuichi Hirao 1980
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

Rich blue-violet 3F, ML, 28″,
Bloom 6″,
Buds 2-3
 

JI Hime Kagami

JI Hime Kagami clump

Hime Kagami

$14.00
Hirao 1975
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1976

Pink self 6F, EM, 36″, Bloom 6″-7″, Buds 5-6
 

Hinamatsuri

$40.00
(Girl’s Festival)
Yoshio Misuda
1986
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

Deep rich pink 3F, E, 26″,
Bloom 8″-9″,
Buds 4-6
 

JI Indigo Angel

JI Indigo Angel clump

Indigo Angel

$12.00
Bauer/Coble 2011

Violet ground darker halo and veins, red-violet band-edged white 6F, M, 32″, Bloom 7″-8″,
Buds 2-3
PM 2019
 

Izumigawa

$35.00
(Spring Flowing Into A River)
Izaemon Kodaka
1830-1843

in Japan
AIS Reg. 1939, 2021

Pale blue-violet with darker veins and style arms 6F, M, 42″,
Bloom 5″-6″,
Buds 3-4
 

JI Jaciva

JI Jaciva clump

Jaciva

$12.00
Harris 1992

Mid-blue-violet 6F, ML, 42″, Bloom 7″-8″, Buds 3-4
 

Janomegasa

$35.00
(Traditional Umbrella)
Unknown <1910
in Japan

AIS Reg. 2021

Pale lilac with darker halos and veins of blue-violet 6F, VE, 40″,
Bloom 7″-8″,
Buds 3-4
 

JI Japanese Plum

JI Japanese Plum clump

Japanese Plum

$12.00
Harris 2010

Velvety red-violet, dark-style arms 6F, M, 38″, Bloom 7″-8″, Buds 3-4
 

Kagurajishi

$40.00
(Shinto Dancing Lion)
Nobutsume Nishida 1929
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1939, 2021

Dark velvet purple 9F, M, 38″,
Bloom 10″,
Buds 2-3
 

Kokuryu No Tsume

$35.00
(Black Dragon’s Nail)
Unknown <1910
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

White with a strong edge of dark violet. Most blooms stay in a closed bud form for the life of the flower, great for Ikebana. 3F, EM, 44″,
Bloom 3″,
Buds 2-3
 

Kotohime

$40.00
(Princess Who Plays The Koto)
Yoshio Mitsuda
1972-1977
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

Bright rich lilac/pink 3F, M, 32″,
Bloom 10″-11″
Buds 2-3
 

JI Lake Effect

JI Lake Effect clump

Lake Effect

$12.00
Bauer/Coble 2004

Blue lighter edges 6F, M, 36″, Bloom 8″-9″, Buds 2-4
PM 2016
 

JI Lion King

JI Lion King clump

Lion King

$12.00
Bauer/Coble 1996

White, edged and freckled red-violet 9F, M, 42″, Bloom 8″-9″, Buds 3-6
 

Miharayama

$35.00
(Mt. Mihara)
Yoshio Mitsuda 1988
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

rich velvet dark purple 6F, ML, 32″,
Bloom 8″,
Buds 2-3
 

Miyabi

$40.00
(Elegant)
Yoshio Mitsuda 1985
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

Bright mid-lilac/pink 6F, EM, 38″,
Bloom8″,
Buds 2
 

JI Mulberry Halos

JI Mulberry Halos clump

Mulberry Halos

$20.00
Harris 2019

Silver-violet ground, mulberry halo, and veins 6F, L, 38″, Bloom 6″-7″, Buds 2-3
 

JI My Elisabeth

JI My Elisabeth clump

My Elisabeth

$12.00
McEwen by Whitney 2008

Large mid-blue-violet 6F, M, 42″, Bloom 9″-10″, Buds 3-4
Tetraploid
 

Natsusugata

$35.00
(Summer Appearance)
Ito Toichi 1953
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

White ground sanded and veined red and blue-violet blends. Very round bowl form. 6F, EM, 38″,
Bloom 6″,
Buds 2-4
 

JI Night Angel

JI Night Angel clump

Night Angel

$12.00
Aitken 1996

 

Dark blue-violet, ray pattern 6F, ML, 36″, Bloom 6″-8″, Buds 2-3
 

Niji No Tomoe

$35.00
(Whirling Rainbow)
probably
Matsudaira Shōō
<1856
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1994

Red-violet, strong white blaze radiating as rays. White standards edged red-violet 3F, E, 38″,
Bloom 6″,
Buds 4-6
 

JI Nishikiori

JI Nishikiori clump

Nishikiori

$12.00
Shimizu by Warner 1997

Red-violet randomly streaked white 6F, M, 35″, Bloom 6″-7″, Buds 4-6
 

Ochiba Goromo

$35.00
(Autumn Leaf Garment)
Unknown <1940
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2021

White lightly brushed pastel blue-violet. White standards with a sharp edge of red-violet. 3F, M, 30″,
Bloom 5″-6″,
Buds 2-4
 

JI Ol'Man River

JI Ol'Man River clump

Ol’Man River

$12.00
McEwen 1987

Red-violet, lightly splashed with white 6F, L, 49″, Bloom 5″-6″, Buds 4-7
 

JI Oriental Classic

JI Oriental Classic clump

Oriental Classic

$12.00
McEwen 1988

Large white self 6F, M, 38″, Bloom 9″-10″, Buds 5-7
Tetraploid
 

JI Pagoda Temple

JI Pagoda Temple clump

Pagoda Temple

$12.00
Harris 2017

Rich blends of violet, a true hose-n-hose, one bloom inside another 12+F, M, 36″, Bloom 6″-7″, Buds 2
 

JI Peacock Strut

JI Peacock Strut clump

Peacock Strut

$12.00
Hirao by Hager 1978

Soft sky blue-violet 3F, L, 42″, Bloom 8″-9″, Buds 2
 

JI Picotee Princess

JI Picotee Princess clump

Picotee Princess

$12.00
Reid 1992

White ground sanded soft lilac 6F, L, 44″, Bloom 8″-9″, Buds 4-6
 

JI Pleasant Earlybird

JI Pleasant Earlybird clump

Pleasant Earlybird

$12.00
Harris 1996

Pastel blue-violet, long bloom season 3F, VE, 44″, Bloom 7″-8″, Buds 5-7
 

JI Pleasant Sandman

JI Pleasant Sandman clump

Pleasant Sandman

$12.00
Harris 1998

Large bloom sanded blends of violet 6F, M, 44″, Bloom 9″-10″, Buds 3
 

Renjō No Tama

$35.00
(Love Of Lilac Jewel)
Matsudaira Shōō
<1856
in Japan
AIS Reg, 1992, 2022

Pastel lilac, white center blaze 6F, M, 32″,
Bloom 6″,
Buds 2-4
 

Sakuragawa

$35.00
(Cherry Stream)
probably
Matsudaira Shōō
<1856
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1938, 2022

White ground heavily sanded blends of red-blue-violet 6F, L, 48″,
Blooms 5″,
Buds 2
 

JI Sanded Treasure

JI Sanded Treasure clump

Sanded Treasure

$25.00
Harris 2020

Warm blends of violet 6F, L, 36″, Blooms 7″-8″, Buds 3-4
 

JI Shining Prince

JI Shining Prince clump

Shining Prince

$12.00
Hirao by Hager AIS Reg 1991

Rich violet with white rays 6F, M, 37″, Bloom 7″-8″, Buds 2-3
 

Shinsou Kajin

$40.00
(Beautiful Woman Secluded)
Unknown <1925
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1939, 2022

Pastel wisteria, mid-violet standards. 3F, M, 48″,
Bloom 8″,
Buds 4-7
 

Shūshi No Homare

$35.00
(Honor Of The People)
Unknown <1904
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2022

White base sanded mid-red-violet, standards darker red-violet edged white. 3F, ML, 34″,
Bloom 4″,
Buds 2-4
 

JI Silent Thunder

JI Silent Thunder clump

Silent Thunder

$12.00
Bauer/Coble 1996

Mid-red-violet, one of the last to start blooming 9F, VL, 48″, Bloom 8″-9″, Buds 4-6
 

JI Silverband

JI Silverband clump

Silverband

$12.00
Bauer/Coble 1989

Dark red-violet with striking variegated white and green foliage 3F, M, 36″, Bloom 3″-4″, Buds 2-4
 

Souseiki

$40.00
(Creation Of The World)
Kamo 1997
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2022

Dark purple-edged white, large and lightly ruffled. 6F, M, 30″,
Bloom 10″,
Buds 2
 

JI Stella Niagara

JI Stella Niagara clump

Stella Niagara

$12.00
Rettig 1995

Blue-violet large white blaze 3F, M, 38″, Bloom 5″-6″, Buds 4-6
 

JI Sugar Dome

JI Sugar Dome clump

Sugar Dome

$12.00
Bauer/Coble 2008

Mid-blue-violet, multiple white styles 6F, L, 42″, Blooms 7″-8″, Buds 3
PM 2015
 

Summer Echoes

$50.00
Harris 2024

 Very large blooms of soft lilac fading to pink. 3F, VE, RE, 34″,
Blooms 10″-12″
Buds 2-3
 

JI Sunrise Ridge

JI Sunrise Ridge clump

Sunrise Ridge

$12.00
Harris 2007

Red-violet, white blaze, and rays 6F, M, 40″, Blooms 7″-8″, Buds 2-4
 

Tatsutagawa

$35.00
(Tatsuta River)
Matsudaira Shōō
<1856
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1994

White random-edged red-violet.
Note: This is one of the original 40 that started the Higo style of breeding.
3F, M, 40″,
Bloom 8″,
Buds 2-4
 

JI Thoroughbred

JI Thoroughbred clump

Thoroughbred

$12.00
McEwen 1999

White, bright blue halo and veins. Standards purple edged white 3F, M, 38″, Bloom 8″-10″, Buds 2
Tetraploid
 

Tsuru No Kegoromo

$35.00
(Gown Of Crane Feathers)
Matsudaira Shōō
<1856
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1939, 2022

Pure white 3F, M, 50″,
Blooms 6″-7″,
Buds 2-3
 

JI Twilight's Splendor

Twilight’s Splendor

$40.00
Harris 2023

 

Pale Blue-violet ground, darker halos, and veins 6F, L, 38″, Blooms 8″-9″, Buds 2-3
 

Wadatsumi (2)

$35.00
(Sea Deity Dragon)
Matsudaira Shōō
<1856
in Japan

AIS Reg. 2022

Mid-lilac-violet, white ray pattern, standards red-violet.
There are two different Wadatsumi Reg. with AIS, hence the (2) after this name.
3F, E, 38″,
Bloom 5″-6″,
Buds 2-4
 

Warai Hotei

$35.00
(Jovial God Of Fortune)
Kotakaen <1910
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2022

Mid-blue-violet, darker veins, style arms black-purple. 6F, L, 38″,
Blooms 6″-7″,
Buds 2
 

JI Yamataikoku

Yamataikoku

$12.00
Kamo 1979
AIS Reg 1993

Large rich velvet royal purple 3F, M, 36″, Bloom 8″-9″, Buds 3-4
 

Zama No Mori

$35.00
(Forest Of Zama)
Musashien 1863
in Japan
AIS Reg. 1939, 2022

Very pale pastel blue-violet fading to white, standards white-edged pale blue-violet. 3F, M, 38″,
Bloom 6″,
Buds 2-4
 

Zuihō

$35.00
(Auspicious Omen)
Unknown <1940
in Japan
AIS Reg. 2022

Mid-purple fading to Mid-violet, red-violet standards.
Very stiff upright foliage.
3F, M, 28″,
Bloom 5″,
Buds 2